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Naturally Occurring Spirochetes in the Colonic Mucosa of Raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Abstract

The large intestines of 21 raccoons (Procyon lotor; 11 wild caught, 10 laboratory confined) were examined for the presence of intestinal spirochetes. Light microscopy of sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Warthin–Starry stain showed the presence of spiral shaped organisms deep within the lumina of intestinal glands at the ileocolonic junction of 16 raccoons (76% prevalence). All laboratory-confined, group-housed raccoons harbored the organisms, but only 6/11 (55% prevalence) live-trapped raccoons were positive for these spirochetes. The organisms were free in the glandular lumina, and there were no microscopic lesions. Two types of spirochetes were identified in the colonic glands: a slender spirochete 10–13 µm in length, 0.3 µm in diameter, and possessing long, thin tapered ends and a larger, regularly waved spiral organism (0.5 µm in diameter). The slender spirochete did not resemble any of the known spirochete genera and failed to grow on medium used to propagate oral treponemes and members of the genus Brachyspira.

Key words: intestinal spirochetes; Procyon lotor; raccoons.

Request reprints from Dr. A. N. Hamir, National Animal Disease Center, ARS, USDA, 2300 Dayton Avenue, PO Box 70, Ames, IA 50010 (USA). E-mail: ahamir{at}nadc.ars.usda.gov.